Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, has signalled his concern following recently released statistics which show than nearly 70% of NHS Tayside patients are waiting longer than 12 weeks for an outpatient appointment.
ISD Scotland figures have shown that nearly 18,000 patients out of 25,000 waited longer than the required 12 weeks for treatment. Highlighting just how far things have fallen only four patients out of more than 18,000 experienced a similar wait in September 2011.
Slipping performance in this field is mirrored across the rest of Scotland, with other NHS boards witnessing similar wait times for patients.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“My office receives more correspondence in relation to outpatient waiting times than almost any other NHS issue, and the reason for this is clear when performance standards are this bad.
“To have a majority of patients not receiving an outpatient appointment within the legal guarantee is seriously concerning. More patients than ever in recorded history are waiting longer than 3 months for simple things like bloodwork and physiotherapy.
“What’s more, it wasn’t that long ago when ISD reported that only one Tayside patient waited longer than the legally guaranteed 12 weeks.
“Ultimately, NHS Tayside is struggling as a result of increased demand coupled with staffing shortages and it is here where the Scottish Government must support boards to recruit clinicians to deliver outpatient care.”